This is a place to discuss the contents of today's webinar which discussed "the importance of your council being visible during three Orderwide initiatives: the Orderwide Church Drive, Orderwide Charitable Service Outreach Week and Orderwide First Degree Week."Continue

I have printed up and sliced the attached document to make slips suitable for carrying in my wallet and, when I encounter a prospective member, I give him one slip with my name and contact info on it, and I jot down his name and contact info on another slip so that I can reach the prospect again at a later date. This sometimes seems to break the ice when discussing the KC's with a potential member.Feel free to download and use or adapt this to suit your needs, and please feel free to provide comments/criticisms/suggestions on this.Let me know if you use this or some other approach for membership recruitment. Respectfully submitted, The Council 4208 webmasterContinue

Welcome to the Decorah Knights Council 4208 website.

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At tonight's Council meeting, Alan Neste was unanimously elected Chancellor. We anticipate that he will serve with great distinction. In his remarks, Alan said, "I'll do my best." Please congratulate Brother Alan the next time you see him

From Saint Benedict's parish: Good Morning! Just a reminder that this afternoon........ Pictures with Santa in the Gathering Space from 1-3pm! Hot Chocolate and Cookies too! Then............ At 3pm in the Parish Hall, the movie, Polar Express, will be shown on the big screens!! Popcorn and lemonade will be served! Kids of ALL AGES are welcome!! No age limit!!! Come on out for a FUN, FAMILY AFTERNOON!

Currently I am working as the field agent for your council and have met with a few people already. However I will not be your councils permanent field agent. Mike Bormann is the General Agent for NE Iowa and is working with me in Decorah and surrounding councils. He is also trying to find the right agent for your council. He has been interviewing a few people around the area and hopes to have an agent take over your council permanently soon.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Also, thank you for adding me as a contact.

What: a seminar on prayer in which Fr. Hertges and Tyler Wheeler will explore questions like; what is prayer? What are some different types of prayer? What are some tips and tricks to help me pray better? How can I be more consistent with prayer?

Maybe you’ve never prayed, maybe you’ve started to pray but are hitting some “snags”, maybe you’ve been praying daily for years. Wherever you are in your prayer life, take a little step closer to Christ by taking this night to further explore prayer………..

…………..Plus, we want you there to contribute your own insights and experiences! Your lived wisdom can be of great benefit to someone else, don’t miss the chance to share it!

"We Want to Teach! We Want to be Taught!" is a grassroots initiative from the laity and religious to request that the Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church publish, for the Universal Church, an Ordinary Sunday catechetical lectionary. The implementation of this initiative, which takes place in phases, will help combat the catechesis crisis we face in our Church today.

Knights of Columbus plan to have wood chips on site and will need help to spread them. Also help with weeding the flower beds and refreshing the wood chips on the school perimeter. Help to remove grass from the volleyball area and the ball diamond. Bring gloves and rakes, shovels and wheelbarrow's. We will have sandwiches and refreshments. School kids can help also. Moms and Dads, we will start about 4 pm but come anytime you can get there. Hope to be finished by 7 to 730. Bring a friend also.

July 14th We have been asked to serve pork chops at the Winneshiek County Fair from 2 pm to 6 pm (We have served for the last 3 years.) Call Brian to volunteer. cell 563-379-1639. After 4pm.

August 13th Monday evening meeting night. KC's and friends spread wood chips in playground area and do other repairs to the school yard as needed. Start about 4 pm or come as soon as you can. Bring silage forks, rakes, shovels, wheel barrows.We will furnish drinks and sandwiches. A short KC meeting to follow.June meeting news.Sean Devine-Meyer elected as the new Grand Knight. 379-9878.June Youth of the month - all St. Benedict graduates. Cheers and congratulations.June Knight of the month - Mike Loney - good job with the dated cookies. Still tasted fresh as a daisy!June Family of the month - Claude Mertzenich family. The family has done much to promote Knights of Columbus and our parish. As well as being just plain nice and good people. THANKS!

Members are asked to attend meetings and bring a prospective member with you. If you bring a prospect, please call the Grand Knight in advance. If you have a gentleman interested in joining the Knights, Contact the Grand Knight to assist in interviewing him.

Council 4208 is diverse and has members who have achieved the first, second, third, or fourth degrees of Knighthood. Degrees are exemplifications of what it means to be a Catholic and a Knight and are organized around the main principles of our Order (http://www.kofc.org/en/about/principles/index.html). The degrees reveal how the Knights of Columbus, as an organization, is different from other community service groups. The first (admission) degree is the introductory and initiation lesson with focus on the theological virtue of "charity." Admissions degree exemplifications are available to members and prospective members of the Knights of Columbus. The second (formation) degree has "unity" as a theme. The third (knighthood) degree has "fraternity" as a theme. Formation and Knighthood degree exemplifications are available ONLY to members of the Knights of Columbus. The fourth (patriotic) degree is the final degree (http://iowakofc.org/page/4th-degree-membership) and is emblematic of the Order by virtue of the characteristic chapeaux, capes, swords, etc., that fourth-degree members wear when participating in honor guards (http://iowakofc.org/page/4th-degree-color-corps-1). Patriotic degree exemplifications are available ONLY to members of the Knights of Columbus. Besides degree exemplifications and closed Council meetings, almost all other Knights of Columbus activities are open to all people. Council 4208 members who have achieved the Fourth Degree are usually members of Davis Assembly 0271 (http://iowakofc.org/profile/DavisAssembly). For a podcast on the purpose of degrees, visit http://iowaknightlife.org/iowa-knight-life-2015-09-02/ All of the degree exemplifications help members to increase their knowledge of the Faith and of the Order and move them toward greater service to Christ's one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church and to the world.

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Iowa Knight of Columbus

If you are an "Iowa Knight Supporter," who recommended you register with the Iowa Knights of Columbus web site?

Decorah Knights Council 4208 is a strong supporter of the Knights of Columbus organization as a whole. The State Council highly recommends that each member, Council, Assembly, and District have a Profile Page (website) here on the IowaKofC.org web platform. If you want information on how to set up your own personal Profile Page or a Profile Page for your Council, Assembly, and/or District, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the "ABOUT THE DECORAH KNIGHTS" box in this column on this website and read the very last two paragraphs.

-->Aside from the numerous personal rewards that come from being a Knight, click here for a list of the many TANGIBLE ($, insurance, and other) REWARDS for you and your family through membership in the Knights of Columbus.

-->The Knights of Columbus Insurance program has paid out over $14 million in FREE family benefits. This is money paid out to members and their families simply by virtue of their membership in the Knights of Columbus! Click here for details.

-->Insurance for Young Knights. Protecting our families from financial ruin is not just a task for the oldest among us. Whether they are 18 or 81, all Knights should be thinking about how they can and should protect the ones they love. But young Knights are different. Their needs are different. Their priorities are different. Their preferences are different. Their budgets are different. That’s why we’ve designed our Young Adult Insurance program for Knights and their spouses, ages 18-29. The program maximizes flexibility, convenience and affordability to enable young brother Knights, and their spouses, to get the coverage they need. Through it, members can receive an annual renewable term life insurance policy that will help protect their families and their futures. Click here for more information.

The Decorah Knights meet on the second Monday of each month (except November, December and July) in Saint Benedict's Parish Hall, which is the basement of Saint Benedict’s Church building, 307 West Main Street, Decorah, Iowa, USA. Click here for map.

For regular meetings:6 pm Meal/social+ [Please note that as of spring/summer 2018, there has been no meal before the meeting due to construction on the parish center.]7 pm Admissions (1st) degree exemplification and/or meeting

For "Travel Gavel" meetings:(1) 7:00 pm 1st degree exemplification (if an exemplification is held)(2) 7:00 pm Meeting (if there's no 1st-degree exemplification)(3) After meeting: Meal/social"Travel Gavel" meetings are usually held in January and/or February. The "Travel Gavel" is presented to a Council in northeast Iowa for best membership showing at meetings with other Councils. Travel Gavel points are added up over the fraternal year, and the northeast Iowa Council with the most points earns the Travel Gavel. Attending Travel Gavel meetings is a way to learn what other Councils are doing, and winning the Travel Gavel is a source of pride for the Council. Attending Travel Gavel meetings is a wonderful manifestation of Christian unity and fraternity.

+A meal/social time starting one hour before most meetings, open to anyone (male or female, young or old, member or non-member, single or married), occurs in the basement of Saint Benedict’s Church building; all people are welcome to enjoy fellowship over a meal. In the warm-weather months, this meal is sometimes a steak fry, which is very popular with the members. A prospective member making his first visit to the social hour gets his meal paid for by the Council! Meal costs vary.

Council and Assembly meetings and degree exemplifications are open ONLY to members of the Knights of Columbus. Almost all other Knights of Columbus activities are open to all people.

If you are a practical (1, 2) Catholic man, age 18 or older, we welcome you to join the leading organization of Catholic laymen in the world. Click here for more information on joining the Knights of Columbus.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic, Family, Fraternal, Service Organization.

Saint Benedict's Council #4208 was chartered May 6, 1956, and continues to be an active contributor to Saint Benedict's parish after over fifty years of service.

Council 4208 is a “STAR” Council! It has been recognized by the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus for outstanding service to our membership, parish and community. Saint Benedict's Council has a long record of support to St. Benedict's parish and the Decorah, Iowa, community. Over several years, our council has donated over $25,000 to various groups, projects and organizations: -----St. Benedict's parish -----St. Benedict's parish elementary/middle school-----St. Benedict's parish youth groups -----Boy Scouts -Girl Scouts -----Community youth projects -----Disaster assistance to Council members in distress -----Money to support seminarians (via RSVP) and the fostering of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life -----Birthright of Decorah-----Campaign for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (CPID) drive (aka "tootsie roll" drive). Knights, their families, and friends collect money to support the CPID program. Tootsie rolls are handed out in thanksgiving to donors. Check out these links for info about the CPID program: http://iowakofc.org/page/cpidhttp://iowakofc.org/profiles/blogs/cpid-once-again-exceeds-600-000http://iowakofc.org/photo/a-helper-with-cpid. http://iowaknightlife.org/wp-content/grand-media/audio/Denny_Hagedorn_on_CPID_15Jul_edited_1.mp3 Thanks to the following Decorah stores for allowing us to collect funds in front of their locations: Fareway, Kwik Star, Walmart. Thanks, too, to the Decorah School District for allowing us to collect funds before football games.-----Knights for Life-----National Center on Sexual Exploitation-----9/11 Heroes Fund-----Annual Council 4208 Spring Dinner. Brother Knights prepare, serve, and tear down after the meal, and they have plenty of help from family and friends. Members of Saint Benedict's parish as well as friends from the Decorah area and beyond attend and enjoy good food and conversation. Money raised is used to fund charities in northeast Iowa and beyond: $3800 (2015); $4042 (2014); $3030 (2013); $3162 (2012); $2789 (2011); $2812 (2010).

-----and more...

The members of St. Benedict's Council 4208 also support the parish by donating time and talents: -Lectoring -Singing in choir -Serving as extra-ordinary ministers of the holy Eucharist -Ushering -Assisting with fundraisers-Financing and clean up projects at St. Benedict's parish elementary/middle school -Providing help with special building projects in the parish and at the parish elementary/middle school -Serving on parish council -Serving on school board -Assisting the parish pastor with any special parish needs -Leading Rosary prayers before weekend Masses and at wakes-Running Free-Throw Championship-Roofing the parish school-Installing handicap railing by the Church building-Built a garage at the parish school-Building playground equipment--Raised $1361 and $1454 in 2009 and 2010, respectively, for persons with intellectual disabilities. These funds went to special olympics (65%) and to Spectrum Industries (35%).--Men prayerfully and quietly leading lives of charitable service to their families and the Church as workers and citizens in fraternal unity with their brother Knights-and more

Video------>For Greater Glory. This excellent movie is available free of charge from the Decorah Public Library courtesy of the Decorah Knights of Columbus. ------>For a live view of Decorah (courtesy of KWWL television), click here and go to the fifth camera; the white-domed belfry and roof of Saint Benedict's parish building can be seen in the top right corner of the image.

Print------>The Iowa Knight Today is the longstanding publicity flagship of the Iowa Knights of Columbus.------>The Witness is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (AoD). All members of the Knights of Columbus in the AoD should subscribe to The Witness to get information directly from our Bishop and to have access to local, State, national, and international Catholic and other news. Click here to subscribe to The Witness. ------>"Parish Priest", a book about Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus.

LINKS TO IOWAKOFC.ORG PROFILE PAGES, GROUPS, ETC.

------>Decorah Knights private online group. If you're a member of Council 4208 and have a profile (account) on the IowaKofC.org website, you may click here to request to join this group.------>Andy Milam (Iowa KofC Catechesis Chairman) blog post: The Precepts of the Catholic Church------>"Why are you a Knight" blog: The Harlan Knights of Columbus is proud to share their Blog Series - "Why Am I a Knight?" Click here to access the blog.------>Website sponsorship: Businesses, click here to learn about sponsoring the Iowa Knights of Columbus website as a way of advertising.

The Knights of Columbus was founded by Venerable Servant of God Father Michael McGivney, a New Haven parish priest, in 1882. The organization was formed to provide charitable outreach and care for the financial well being of Catholic families, focusing on the protection of widows and orphans, and on strengthening the faith of its members. It has grown into the world’s largest lay Catholic organization, with more than 1.8 million members throughout North and Central America, the Philippines, the Caribbean and Europe. The enormous force for good of the nearly 15,000 Knights of Columbus councils donated more than $1.5 billion and 682 million hours of service over the last decade to various charitable causes. The Decorah Knights of Columbus Council 4208 follows in this tradition in our local area, and we ask for the prayers of our guardian angels, Saint Benedict, Saint Joseph, the blessed Virgin Mary under the title of our Lady of Guadalupe, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney (founder of the Knights of Columbus), and all people as we try to help our brothers and sisters in the service of our Lord Jesus the Christ. May the Holy Spirit come upon our Council and all people such that we may serve our heavenly Father in Truth and Justice. Amen.

Given State Deputy Jon Aldrich's charge to "be courageous" during the July 2015 - June 2016 fraternal year, the second Mass reading for Sunday 14 June 2015 is a timely Scripture passage: http://usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/5:6-10

The information on this Profile Page (website) is, to the best of the ability of the Decorah Knights' webmaster, in line with the website policies of the Iowa Knights of Columbus. Notwithstanding this, please feel free to contact the Decorah Knights should you have any questions or concerns about the Council 4208 Profile Page (website). All media posted on this Profile Page (website) are copyrighted and may not be used in any way by parties not associated with IowaKofC.org or the Iowa Knights of Columbus without the express written permission of Council 4208.

If you want to get a Profile Page (website) operating for your Council, Assembly, and/or District, click here for an instructional video. For more information and discussion on this issue, click here. [Kudos to Marty Stratton (IowaKofC.org webmaster) for helping to get the Decorah Knights Profile Page (website) up and running. In thanksgiving, please take some time to visit Brother Marty's business website.]

If you are a member or friend of the Iowa Knights of Columbus and want to sign up for your own personal Profile Page (website) on the IowaKofC.org platform, click here. Once you have been approved, click here for information on how to modify your Profile Page (website).